Children's Room Art

Early in 1990, KPL received a grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation to transform the Children's Room. With that gift, the library commissioned several artists to spark our imaginations with original artwork. Author/illustrator David Small painted a pillar with nursery rhyme characters. Artist Dee Durkee sculpted Jack and his beanstalk. Architect Michael Dunn designed the castle entrance to the Story Room. Jamie Rife created three vibrant stained glass windows. Storybook characters surround the pillar painted by Barbara Thiery Buysee. Framed artwork hangs throughout the room, from the newest paper painting by Denise Fleming in 2005 to the “picture-letter” created in 1881 by a young Lucy Fitch who later wrote and illustrated 24 very popular books about twins.

10. Imogene Reading in Bed

11. Childhood Scenes

Original picture letter created by Lucy A. Fitch in 1881 of pleasurable scenes from her childhood in Kalamazoo. As an adult, Lucy Fitch Perkins wrote and illustrated a very popular series of childrens books about twins, several of which are still in print.

14. Imogene Reading

15. Pillar Design

Painted by Barbara Thiery Buysee, winner of a competition to design a pillar in the Children's Room. Characters spring from the books The Secret Garden, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Black Stallion, Treasure Island, Uncle Remus, The Wind in the Willows, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, and the poetry of Langston Hughes.